CSIR NET Syllabus 2026 covers Chemical Sciences, Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences, Life Sciences and Bio-Technology, Mathematical Sciences, and Physical Sciences. For the December 2026 examination, candidates should refer to the latest syllabus and scheme prescribed by CSIR-HRDG and NTA and prepare Part A, Part B, and Part C according to their selected subject.
The Joint CSIR-UGC NET is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) to determine eligibility for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), Assistant Professor, and admission to PhD, as applicable. The examination is conducted as a single paper divided into three parts: Part A tests General Aptitude, while Part B and Part C assess subject-specific knowledge, concepts, and analytical ability.
CSIR NET Syllabus 2026 has five subject areas: Chemical Sciences, Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences, Life Sciences and Bio-Technology (LS-BT), Mathematical Sciences, and Physical Sciences. Candidates should download or refer to the syllabus for their selected subject before beginning their preparation.
The CSIR NET December 2026 examination will be conducted by NTA in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode. The syllabus is divided into a common Part A and subject-specific Parts B and C. The detailed syllabus is prescribed by CSIR-HRDG, while the December 2026 Information Bulletin provides the subject-wise examination scheme.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | Joint CSIR-UGC NET |
| Exam Cycle | December 2026 |
| Conducting Authority | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Mode of Exam | Computer Based Test (CBT) |
| Duration | 3 Hours |
| Maximum Marks | 200 |
| Number of Parts | Part A, Part B and Part C |
| Part A | General Aptitude |
| Subjects | Chemical Sciences, Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences, Life Sciences and Bio-Technology, Mathematical Sciences, Physical Sciences |
| CSIR NET Dec 2026 Exam Dates | 19th, 22nd and 27th December, 2026 |
Candidates should check the subject-specific marking scheme because the number of questions, marks per question, and negative marking can vary across subjects.
For the December 2026 cycle, candidates should use the latest syllabus available through CSIR-HRDG. The official December 2026 Information Bulletin lists Life Sciences as Life Sciences and Bio-Technology (LS-BT) and Earth Sciences as Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences.
CSIR-HRDG has also undertaken syllabus revisions for Chemical Sciences, Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, and Physical Sciences. Candidates preparing for these subjects should refer to the latest syllabus rather than relying only on older syllabus copies.
Candidates preparing for CSIR NET can refer to the official syllabus provided by CSIR-HRDG for their respective subject. The December 2026 Information Bulletin directs candidates to the CSIR-HRDG website for the detailed syllabus and scheme of the Joint CSIR-UGC NET subjects. The CSIR NET syllabus is available for the following five subjects:
| CSIR NET Syllabus PDF | |
| Subjects | Download Link |
| CSIR NET Syllabus Life Sciences | Download PDF |
| CSIR NET Syllabus Mathematical Sciences | Download PDF |
| CSIR NET Syllabus Chemical Sciences | Download PDF |
| CSIR NET Syllabus Physical Sciences | Download PDF |
| CSIR NET Syllabus Earth Sciences | Download PDF |
Candidates should download or refer to the syllabus for their selected subject before starting preparation. The official syllabus is the primary reference for understanding the topics covered in Parts B and C.
The CSIR NET Paper 1 syllabus is commonly used by candidates to refer to Part A, which is common across all five subjects. Part A tests General Aptitude, including General Science, Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis, and Research Aptitude. Part A consists of 20 questions, out of which candidates are required to attempt 15 questions. Each question carries 2 marks, making the section worth 30 marks. The major topics covered under the CSIR NET Part A syllabus include:
| CSIR NET Syllabus 2026 Paper 1 | |
| Section | Topics |
| Reasoning |
|
| Quantitative Aptitude |
|
| Data Interpretation & Graphical Analysis |
|
CSIR NET does not have two separate papers in the conventional sense. The examination is conducted as a single paper divided into Part A, Part B, and Part C. Part B contains subject-related questions that test candidates' understanding of concepts and topics included in the respective subject syllabus. Part C contains higher-level and analytical questions designed to assess the ability to apply scientific concepts to solve problems. The number of questions and questions to be attempted varies according to the subject. Therefore, candidates should follow the subject-wise scheme rather than applying one common question pattern to all five subjects.
The CSIR NET syllabus covers five subjects:
Chemical Sciences
Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences
Life Sciences and Bio-Technology
Mathematical Sciences
Physical Sciences
Part A is common to all subjects, whereas Parts B and C are based on the subject selected by the candidate.
The official December 2026 subject list refers to this paper as Life Sciences and Bio-Technology (LS-BT). Candidates preparing for this subject should refer to the latest syllabus prescribed for the combined examination.
The syllabus includes areas related to biomolecules, cellular organisation, fundamental biological processes, cell communication and signalling, developmental biology, plant and animal physiology, inheritance, evolution and diversity, ecology and behavioural biology, bioinformatics and computational biology, biotechnology, and methods in biology.
| CSIR NET Syllabus 2026 Life Sciences | |
| Unit Number | Unit Name |
| Unit 1 | Molecules and their Interaction Relevant to Biology |
| Unit 2 | Cellular Organization |
| Unit 3 | Fundamental Processes |
| Unit 4 | Cell Communication and Cell Signaling |
| Unit 5 | Developmental Biology |
| Unit 6 | System Physiology – Plant |
| Unit 7 | System Physiology – Animal |
| Unit 8 | Inheritance Biology |
| Unit 9 | Diversity of Life Forms |
| Unit 10 | Ecological Principles |
| Unit 11 | Evolution and Behavior |
| Unit 12 | Applied Biology |
| Unit 13 | Methods in Biology |
Candidates can refer to the detailed CSIR NET Life Science Syllabus for unit-wise topics and preparation requirements.
The CSIR NET Mathematical Sciences syllabus 2026 covers areas of pure mathematics, applied mathematics, and statistics. Candidates can refer to the detailed syllabus for topics including Algebra, Linear Algebra, Calculus, Analysis, Complex Analysis, Ordinary Differential Equations, Partial Differential Equations, Integral Equations, Numerical Analysis, Classical Mechanics, Statistics, and related areas.
| CSIR NET Syllabus 2026 Mathematical Sciences | |
| Unit Number | Unit Name |
| Unit 1 | Analysis |
| Unit 2 | Linear Algebra |
| Unit 3 | Complex Analysis |
| Unit 4 | Algebra |
| Unit 5 | Ordinary Differential Equations (ODEs) |
| Unit 6 | Partial Differential Equations (PDEs) |
| Unit 7 | Numerical Analysis |
| Unit 8 | Calculus of Variations |
| Unit 9 | Linear Integral Equations |
| Unit 10 | Classical Mechanics |
| Unit 11 | Descriptive Statistics, Exploratory Data Analysis |
Candidates can download or check the detailed CSIR NET Mathematical Science Syllabus for subject-wise preparation.
The CSIR NET Chemistry syllabus 2026 is one of the major subject-wise syllabus searches and covers Chemical Sciences. The subject includes Analytical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, and other relevant areas. For the December 2026 examination, candidates should refer to the latest Chemical Sciences syllabus before preparing their topic-wise study plan.
| CSIR NET Syllabus 2026 Chemical Sciences | |
| Unit Number | Unit Name |
| Unit 1 | Inorganic Chemistry |
| Unit 2 | Physical Chemistry |
| Unit 3 | Organic Chemistry |
| Unit 4 | Chemistry in Nanoscience and Technology |
| Unit 5 | Catalysis and Green Chemistry |
| Unit 6 | Medicinal Chemistry |
| Unit 7 | Supramolecular Chemistry |
| Unit 8 | Environmental Chemistry |
Candidates can access the detailed CSIR NET Chemical Science Syllabus to review the topics covered in the subject.
The CSIR NET Physical Sciences syllabus 2026 covers major areas of physics, including Mathematical Methods of Physics, Classical Mechanics, Electromagnetic Theory, Quantum Mechanics, Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics, Electronics and Experimental Methods, Atomic and Molecular Physics, Condensed Matter Physics, and Nuclear and Particle Physics. The latest subject syllabus should be followed for the December 2026 examination
| CSIR NET Syllabus 2026 Physical Sciences | |
| Unit Number | Unit Name |
| Unit 1 | Mathematical Methods of Physics |
| Unit 2 | Classical Mechanics |
| Unit 3 | Electromagnetic Theory |
| Unit 4 | Quantum Mechanics |
| Unit 5 | Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics |
| Unit 6 | Electronics and Experimental Methods |
Candidates can refer to the detailed CSIR NET Physical Science Syllabus for the complete subject-wise topics.
The December 2026 Information Bulletin officially lists the subject as Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean and Planetary Sciences. The subject includes areas related to Geology, Geophysics, Meteorology, Oceanography, Physical Geography, and other relevant specializations. Candidates preparing for this paper should refer to the latest syllabus to understand the detailed topics and prepare Parts B and C accordingly.
| CSIR NET Syllabus 2026 Earth Sciences | |
| Unit Number | Unit Name |
| CSIR NET 2026 Earth Science Part B Syllabus | |
| Unit 1 | The Earth and the Solar System |
| Unit 2 | Earth Materials, Surface Features and Processes |
| Unit 3 | Interior of the Earth, Deformation and Tectonics |
| Unit 4 | Oceans and Atmosphere |
| Unit 5 | Environmental Earth Sciences |
| CSIR NET 2026 Earth Science Part C Syllabus | |
| Unit 6 | Geology - Mineralogy and Petrology |
| Unit 7 | Geology - Structural Geology and Geotectonics |
| Unit 8 | Geology - Paleontology and its Applications |
| Unit 9 | Geology - Sedimentology and Stratigraphy |
| Unit 10 | Geology - Marine Geology and Paleoceanography |
| Unit 11 | Geology - Geochemistry |
| Unit 12 | Geology - Economic Geology |
| Unit 13 | Geology - Precambrian Geology and Crustal Evolution |
| Unit 14 | Geology - Quaternary Geology |
| Unit 15 | Geology - Applied Geology |
| Unit 16 | Geology - Physical Geography |
| Unit 17 | Geology - Geophysics |
| Unit 18 | Geology - Meteorology |
| Unit 19 | Geology - Ocean Sciences |
Candidates can check the detailed CSIR NET Earth Science Syllabus for the subject-wise topics.
